Novak Djokovic will be able to defend his Wimbledon championship this summer after tournament administrators announced that players who have not been immunized against Covid-19 will be eligible to compete at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).

World No. 1 was denied entry to the Australian Open in January after having his visa rejected twice owing to his unvaccinated status, and Djokovic previously told a foreign news website that he was willing to miss additional tournaments if they forced him to be vaccinated.

“The government’s entry requirements for the UK do not involve obligatory vaccination,” Sally Bolton, chief executive of the AELTC, told reporters on Tuesday.

“As a result, while participation is encouraged, it will not be a requirement to participate at the Championships this year.”

Following his deportation from Australia, Djokovic was unable to compete in the Masters 1000 championships at Indian Wells and Miami due to the Covid-19 entrance requirements in the United States.

The 20-time grand slam champion, who is vying for his seventh Wimbledon crown, reached his first final of the year last week at the Serbian Open but was defeated by Andrey Rublev.

Djokovic will enter Wimbledon as one of the favorites, with his chances enhanced by the absence of Daniil Medvedev and Rublev, two of the top ten’s most dangerous players, after tournament officials confirmed last week that Russian players would not be eligible to compete.

The Serb slammed the decision to bar Russian and Belarussian players from competing at Wimbledon this year as “insane.”

Wimbledon runs from June 27 to July 10.